Tuesday, November 24, 2009

James MacMillan Piper passed away on November 18, 2009 with his family by his side.

Jim was born in Spokane, WA on March 9, 1923. He moved to Seattle and finished his senior year on Broadway High School. During his senior year, he got a job at Swedish Hospital, where he ran the elevator. Since he needed a place to live, he slept in the mattress room at the hospital.

He was a soldier in the 84th Infantry and served our country in WWII and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon his return from the war, Jim attended the University of Washington, where he met his first wife, Jackie Elliott. Jim graduated with a degree in Zoology and was a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity.

After college, Jim worked for various companies in the transportation and equipment industries. He quickly developed relationships with the major railroads by salvaging cargo from rail derailments, which then led him to found MacMillan-Piper in 1969. Under his leadership, he built MacMillan-Piper into the largest transloader and container freight station in the Pacific Northwest. Today, MacMillan-Piper is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in global trade.

On his daily trips to work from Bainbridge to Seattle, Jim noticed the homeless that were present on the Seattle streets. He took note of them in the mornings on his way to work and again on his way home in the evenings and he knew he wanted to help. He got support from Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge, and Jim and a small group began handing out sack lunches to the homeless. His efforts grew into donations of clothing and blankets and hot dinners. People outside the church began to help as well. The program "Streets of Seattle" continues today with many people lending a hand from the Seattle area.

Jim and his wife Zona, made their home on Bainbridge Island, as well as their most recent residence at Aljoya on Mercer Island. Together, Jim and Zona were founding members of Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island. Over the years, Jim made many lasting friendships playing golf at Wing Point Golf and Country Club on Bainbridge. Jim and his family were enthusiastic skiers, and Jim had many happy memories of skiing up at Stevens Pass.

Jim was a man of many gifts. It gave him great pleasure to quietly do things for others. He made friends easily with people of all ages, and his choice to treat all people with dignity and respect brought out the best in everyone he met. He had a terrific sense of humor. He not only enjoyed telling jokes, but he had perfected the fine art of "pulling your leg." His love and appreciation for music led him to take violin lessons as a boy, and in his late 60's he took mandolin lessons.

Jim passed away hearing the voices of his family as they joined together at his bedside to sing his favorite song, "Edelweiss."

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Zona, and their children: son Jim Piper and wife Suzie, daughter Mary and husband Steve Diederichs, daughter Sue and husband Dave Lindsey, daughter Janet and husband Tim Jorve, son J.T. Kearney and wife Tamme Bosler, son Jack Piper and wife Jinks, and daughter Patty and husband Steve Stivala.Along with his 7 children, and his many years running MacMillan-Piper, Jim was most proud of his 14 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island, Saturday, December 5th at 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

But it's where I'm at, and if you don't check my blog for a while, I'll totally understand.

I put on a happy face all day (and most of the time I truly am having happy moments), but the dark pain is always there. Always trying to rear its head out. And I spent extra energy during the day trying to push out painful memories and reminders.

I've been trying really hard to look on the bright side.

Heck ... I'm a bright-side kinda girl.

But some days are just really hard.

Days that you fight back tears.

Days like today.

Here are a few things that are really hard.

Watching a movie and realizing books like this .... are on your coffee table.

Getting your weekly email updates titled: Your Belly - 10 Weeks ...

But your not.

Being able to choose between 2 pair of pants because that's all the fit.

Okay ... I'm done for now.

Thanks for letting me grieve with you ... no matter how annoying it is for you.

There are a bagillion positives that have come out of our unfortunate circumstance.

Monday, November 2, 2009

I had severe cramping coupled with body-aches after lunch on Saturday and it didn't stop until today.

My abdomen hurt. My legs hurt. My lower back hurt. My neck hurt.

I hurt.

I was really scared.

I had been warned about blood clots and infections and fear had been at the forefront of my mind for days.

I mean seriously ... isn't having a D&C painful enough?

After hours of contemplating "I'm sure I'm not that bad," and "I don't really want to bother them on the weekend," ... I called the on-call doctor last night.

She patiently listened to my symptoms, made sure I didn't need anything stronger for the pain, and then asked me to call the doctor's office first thing in the morning. She thought I was most likely had a clot. They would do an ultrasound in the morning, and if there was clotting, I would have to have a 2nd D&C.

I thanked her, hung up the phone, and sat at the edge of my bed for over an hour.

Crying ... out of sheer sadness.

Praying ... for a healthy body.

Begging ... for a respite from the physical pain.

The shock of having another D&C ripped through my body. I had to do my 1st D&C with very little pain medication since I'm allergic to most of it.

I was terrified to go back in.

I did my best to process this new information ... and went to bed.

I was so tired of thinking. Feeling.

When I woke up in the morning, in an effort to not give Too Much Information ... I'm happy to report that I passed a clot and am 100% cramp/pain free!

I talked to my doctor, she said she didn't need to see me unless I start cramping again.

Thank you God, for healing my body.

My friend sent this to me this morning.

It's a nice reminder.

I wrote it on a piece paper and have held it in my pocket all day:

Do not fear, for I am with you.Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you.I will hold you in my righteous right hand.- Isaiah 41:10

I am so ready for the physical pain to be over.

I still need to work on all the emotional pain, but it's difficult when your physical pain screams so much louder.

about me

I am a happy wife and grateful mommy. I love my dad's hugs, my brother's advice, and holding hands with my mom. I have a husband whose love for me is fierce and true. After several heartbreaking miscarriages, we welcomed P1 in September 2011 and P2 in October 2013! We are living a very blessed life.